Resources

Now Available in a Google Workspace!

The full suite of curriculum, instruction, assessment, and reporting resources at grades 5 and 8 are available for use in Google Drive and Google Classroom. For access to the resources in Google Drive, click here.

To request access to the Google Classroom collaboration space, please complete the form below. Please note, to access the Google Classroom, you must use an email address associated with an existing Google Account. Not sure if you have a Google Account? No problem! Create a new account at https://accounts.google.com/. When asked to create a Gmail address for signing into your Google Account, you can opt to “Use your existing email.”

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SIPS Resources

The SIPS partners are producing a wide range of science assessment resources for public access and use that are coordinated and aligned across all parts of a standards-based system of curriculum, instruction, and assessment. With coherence as a guiding principle, SIPS is engaging state and local educators from all six partner states to identify meaningful bundles of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) performance expectations for grades 5 and 8 and to create four unit maps (i.e., instructional frameworks) to cover those expectations. Each unit map is accompanied by a suite of curriculum, instruction, and assessment resources designed to support high-quality, three-dimensional science teaching and learning along a year-long instructional pathway.

For more information about the SIPS resources, see the SIPS Assessment Model Interpretive Guide (.pptx, .pdf).

Grade 5 Unit 1: Matter and Its Interactions

The Grade 5 Unit 1 topic, “Matter and Its Interactions,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students develop an understanding of matter and its interactions and the structure, properties, and conservation of matter.

Grade 5 Unit 1 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

Curriculum
  • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
  • Storyline Overview (.ppt, .pdf)
  • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
  • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
  • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

Assessment

Instruction
  • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
  • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
  • Sample Lessons:
    • Segment 1: “What is Air?” (.docx, .pdf)
    • Segment 3: “Where Did it Go?” (.docx, .pdf)

*Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

Grade 5 Unit 2: Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

The Grade 5 Unit 2 topic, “Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students develop an understanding of the interconnectedness of organisms and environments within ecosystems, and how matter cycles and energy flows within these ecosystems that enable living things to grow and survive.

Grade 5 Unit 2 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

Curriculum
  • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
  • Storyline Overview (.ppt, .pdf)
  • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
  • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
  • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

Assessment
  • Stage 2 Instructionally-embedded Assessments* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
  • Designing Equitable Assessments for Diverse Learners (.docx, .pdf)
  • Sample Instructionally-embedded Assessments:
    • Segment 1: “The Life of a Bear”
    • Segment 2: “Lights for Plants, On or Off?”
    • Segment 3: “Movement and Decomposition of Matter in an Ecosystem”
  • End-of-Unit Assessment (.docx, .pdf)

Instruction
  • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
  • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
  • Sample Lessons:
    • Segment 1: “Matter Matters” (.docx, .pdf)
    • Segment 3: “Matter Cycles through Decomposition: What’s the Breakdown?” (.docx, .pdf)

*Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

Grade 5 Unit 3: Earth Systems and the Solution of Water Problems

The Grade 5 Unit 3 topic, “Earth Systems and the Solution of Water Problems,” organizes performance expectations with a focus on the interconnectedness of how different Earth systems interact with each other and how water plays an important role for each of the four Earth systems, especially the biosphere.

Grade 5 Unit 3 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

Curriculum
  • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
  • Storyline Overview (.ppt, .pdf)
  • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
  • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
  • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

Assessment

    Instruction
    • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
    • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
    • Sample Lessons:
      • Segment 2: “Water, Water Everywhere and Not a Drop to Drink” (.docx, .pdf)
      • Segment 2: “Can You Catch the Water?” (.docx, .pdf)

    *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

    Grade 5 Unit 4: Earth and its Gravitational Force and Motion

    The Grade 5 Unit 4 topic, “Earth and its Gravitational Force and Motion,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students develop an understanding of how Earth’s spin is related to how much sunlight is received in any location, how Earth’s gravitational force is always directed downwards, and how the distance of Earth from the sun and stars influences their brightness.

    Grade 5 Unit 4 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

    Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

    Curriculum
    • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
    • Storyline Overview (.pptx, .pdf)
    • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
    • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
    • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

    Assessment
      • Interpretive Guidance and Instructional Strategies for Educators (.docx, .pdf)
      • Family Guidance and Learning Resources
        • Performance Category 1: Support Arguments Related to Interactions Within the Earth, Sun, and Moon System (.docx, .pdf)
        • Performance Category 2: Analyze Data to Describe Observable Patterns Related to the Earth, Sun, and Moon System (.docx, .pdf)
        • Performance Category 3: Support Arguments Related to the Apparent Brightness of Stars (.docx, .pdf)

        Instruction
        • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
        • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
        • Sample Lessons:
          • Segment 1: “Big, Small, it is all Relative” (.docx, .pdf)
          • Segment 4: “How Does My Constellation Move?” (.docx, .pdf)

        *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

        Grade 8 Unit 1: Forces and Energy

        The Grade 8 Unit 1 topic, “Forces and Energy,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students develop an understanding of the motion of objects and how interactions between objects can be explained and predicted.

        Grade 8 Unit 1 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

        Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

        Curriculum
        • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
        • Storyline Overview (.pptx, .pdf)
        • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
        • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
        • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

        Assessment

        Instruction
        • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
        • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
        • Sample Lessons:
          • Segment 1: “Newton’s Third Law” (.docx, .pdf)
          • Segment 2: “Getting to the Bottom of Newton’s Second Law” (.docx, .pdf)

        *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

        Grade 8 Unit 2: Gravity and Motion of Objects in the Solar System

        The Grade 8 Unit 2 topic, “Gravity and Motion of Objects in the Solar System,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students deepen their knowledge of the force of gravity between objects with mass and its role in keeping planetary objects in orbit within the solar system, and of Earth’s place in the universe.

        Grade 8 Unit 2 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

        Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

        Curriculum
        • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
        • Storyline Overview (.pptx, .pdf)
        • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
        • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
        • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

        Assessment

        Instruction
        • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
        • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
        • Sample Lessons:
          • Segment 1: “Analyze and Interpret Data” (.docx, .pdf)
          • Segment 3: “Gravity Pulls Us All Together” (.docx, .pdf)

        *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

        Grade 8 Unit 3: Understanding Earth History and the Origin of Species

        The Grade 8 Unit 3 topic, “Understanding Earth History and the Origin of Species,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students deepen their knowledge of evidence of a common ancestor interpreted through fossil records and how differences in their structure help explain present day organisms, and how rock strata help us explain the history of Earth.

        Grade 8 Unit 3 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

        Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

        Curriculum
        • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
        • Storyline Overview (.pptx, .pdf)
        • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
        • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
        • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

        Assessment

        Instruction
        • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
        • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
        • Sample Lessons:
          • Segment 2: “What Was Their Life Like?” (.docx, .pdf)
          • Segment 4: “Populations Change Over Time” (.docx, .pdf)

        *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

        Grade 8 Unit 4: Providing Solutions to Problems Using Simple Wave Properties

        The Grade 8 Unit 4 topic, “Providing Solutions to Problems Using Simple Wave Properties,” organizes the Next Generation Science Standards performance expectations with a focus on helping students deepen their knowledge of properties of mechanical light and light waves and how they can be used to define and solve engineering problems. Students learn how to determine success criteria and constraints needed to solve problems related to properties and behaviors of simple waves.

        Grade 8 Unit 4 Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Resources

        Unit Map / Instructional Framework (.docx, .pdf)

        Curriculum
        • Claim, Measurement Target, and PE Bundle (.docx, .pdf)
        • Storyline Overview (.pptx, .pdf)
        • Student Profile (.docx, .pdf)
        • Policy and Range Performance Level Descriptors (.docx, .pdf)
        • Stage 1 Learning Goals* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)

        Assessment

        Instruction
        • Stage 3 Learning Plan* (See Unit Map / Instructional Framework)
        • Differentiation Strategies and Resources (.docx, .pdf)
        • Sample Lessons:
          • Segment 1: “What is a Wave?” (.docx, .pdf)
          • Segment 3: “Bending and Bouncing Light Rays” (.docx, .pdf)

        *Embedded within Unit Map / Instructional Framework

        SIPS Assessments Complexity Framework (.docx, .pdf)

        This framework describes four components of complexity that support the principled design and evaluation of prompts, tasks, and assessments that elicit evidence about the degree to which students can demonstrate proficiency in integrating Scientific and Engineering Practices with important Disciplinary Core Ideas and Crosscutting Concepts to scientifically investigate and understand natural phenomena and solve important science and engineering design problems. 

        SIPS Assessments Pilot Study Technical Report (.pdf)

        The SIPS End-of-Unit (EoU) Assessments are stackable, instructionally-embedded, portable science assessment tasks designed to measure students’ learning and support science instruction. These assessments are stackable as they can be used together in different orders, they are instructionally-embedded because they can be integrated into existing instruction, and they are portable as they can be used with a variety of curricula and in a variety of instructional settings. The pilot study, described in detail in this report, was designed and implemented to explore the quality of the SIPS EoU science assessments and the validity of the scores they produce to make claims about students’ proficiency related to three-dimensional science learning.

        SIPS Embedded Standard Setting Technical Report (.pdf)

        Embedded Standard Setting (ESS) was employed to establish the SIPS cut scores. ESS (Lewis & Cook, 2020) is the logical extension of Principled Assessment Design to standard setting. ESS transforms the standard setting from a standalone workshop that typically occurs after test administration and just prior to score reporting to a set of processes that are an active part of the assessment development lifecycle. This report describes the methods, analyses, and results supporting the SIPS standard setting activities. 

        Functional Requirements of a Learning Management System (.docx, .pdf)

        This guide offers a list of considerations and specifications for the selection of a web-based learning management  system that states, districts, and schools could use to store and deliver the SIPS unit maps, assessments, and instructional resources, ensure students and educators have access to flexible learning environments and content delivery, and support real-time data access, analysis, and reporting.